Statistical Report 1981

For the information of the members of the Church, the First Presidency has issued the following statistical report concerning the growth and status of the Church as of 1981 December 31. (Membership figures include estimates based on 1981 reports available prior to conference.)

Number of stakes

1,321

Number of districts

342

Number of missions

188

Number of wards

8,392

Number of branches in stakes

2,719

Number of branches in missions

(These statistics reflect an increase of 103 stakes and 622 wards and branches during 1981.)

2,102

Number ofcountries with organized wards or branches

Total membership at the close of 1981

4,936,000

It is estimated that current Church membership exceeds 5 million.

Children blessed

111,000

Children of record baptized

69,000

Converts baptized

224,000

Birthrate per thousand

28.1

Number of persons married per thousand

12.2

Death rate per thousand

3.9

Deacons

213,000

Teachers

159,000

Priests

311,000

Elders

419,000

Seventies

32,000

High priests

170,000

Full-time missionaries

29,700

Names cleared in 1981 for temple endowments

4,346,000

For the living

49,800

For the dead

4,101,000

Temples in operation

(There were 139,000 more endowments performed in 1981 than in 1980, even thought the Manti Temple was not in operation for part of the year.)

19

With those announced this week, the number of temples planned and under construction

21

Temples closed during the year

1

Seminaries and Institutes, including special programs

326,200

Church schools, colleges, and continuing education

72,500

Persons assisted by LDS Social Services

62,800

Persons placed in gainful employment

27,200

Man-days of labor donated to welfare services

533,800

Commodities distributed from storehouses in pounds

31,342,000

Prominent Members Who Passed Away during the Year:

Elder S. Dilworth Young, emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and former Senior President of the First Council of the Seventy; Elder Del Alvin Talley, senior Regional Representative; Freda Joan Jensen Lee, widow of President Harold B. Lee; Belle Smith Spafford, general president of the Relief Society from 1945 to 1974 and former president to the National Council of Women; Lucile Reading, managing editor of the Friend magazine and former counselor in the General Presidency of the Primary; Dr. Henry Eyring, world-renowned scientist and author; Dr. Harvey Fletcher, internationally known expert and inventor in the field of communications; A. Hamer Reiser, former counselor in the General Presidency of the Sunday School; Louise J. Lake, teacher of the handicapped and recipient of the President’s Trophy for Handicapped American of the Year; and George S. Eccles, prominent banker and civic leader.